Machine for applying closures to or removing them from bottles and other containers



Sept. 13; 1938. A CLARKE 2,130,317

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO OR REMOVING THEM FROM BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1938. A CLARKE 2,130,317

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO OR REMOVING THEM FROM BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 12, 1937 G-Sheets-Sheet 2 MA, M fj z mw Sept. 13, 1938. CLARKE 2,130,317

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO OR REMOVING THEM FROM BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed Feb.- 12, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 llllllllllll lll II Sept. 13, 1938- CLARKE 2,130,317

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLOSURES To OR REMOVING THEM FROM BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 12, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 13, 1938. CLARKE 2,130,317

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO OR REMOVING THEM FROM BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 12, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 MACHINE FOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO OR REMOVING 13, 1938. A. CLARKE 2,130,317

THEM FROM BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Patented Sept. 13, 1938 MACHINE FORAPPLYING CLOSURES TO OR REMOVING THEM FROM BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Arthur Clarke, Leicester -England, .assignor to Gimson A; Go. (Leicester) Limited, Leicester,

,England, a British company Application February 12, 1937, Serial No; 125,511 w-In' Great Britain February 21, 1936 19 Claims.

' This invention relates to machines for applying closures to or removing them from containers and its object is to provide in or for such machines improved closure. applying or removing apparatus.

It is primarily intended to make the apparatus tainers where for applying the closure a relative "rotation between the closure and container is required.

Although mainly intended for applying screw or screw-like closures as aforesaid, the apparatus M constituting the invention may in some cases be adapted for use for the purpose of removing the closure from the container, for example removing screw stoppers from bottles.

' Further, the apparatus constituting the invention may be made in a form suitable for applying closures to containers where no relative rotation between the closure and container is required, as for example the insertion of corks into bottles and the application of crown corks or caps to 330 bottles and like containers.

In the improved apparatus the means for dealing with-that is applying or removing-closures are operated by fluid pressure, preferably compressed air but a liquid such as oil or water may be employed.

The apparatus constituting the invention comprises a double cylinder and piston arrangement one cylinder and piston serving to operate or control a chuck or other suitable holder for the closure and the other cylinder and piston serving to move the chuck or holder towards and from the container.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form 1 of the improved closure or applying apparatus wherein the two cylinders thereof are arranged tandem fashion in axial alignment.

Figure 2 is a front view of a housing associated with the apparatus and adapted to accommodate 1 0 a valve for controlling the fluid pressure.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with certain parts thereof removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

. Figure 5 is a-detail view of the valve aforesaid.

Figure 6 is a front elevational: view of a machine for inserting screw stoppers intoubottles and embodying aplurality of, closure, applying units of the form illustrated in'Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view 'of the 5 same.

Figure 8 is an enlargediplan view, partlyin section; of part of the said machine.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic. layoutof certain partsof the machine illustrating more particum larly the various stages in the operation of the means for controllingthe' fluid pressure tolthe closure applying units.

Figure 10 is an elevational viewof an arrangement whereby the admissioniofafiuid pressure to.; a closure applying unit is: obtained only in the event of a bottle being presented to saidunit.

\Figure 11 is a similar view of an arrangement whereby in the eventof a screw stopper not being delivered for application to a bottle the fluid ggg pressure to the corresponding closure applying unit is relieved shortly 'after being admitted.

Figure 12 is aside view of apart, offlsaid means. Figure 13 is a detail View of one'of-the tappets which are. employed to control the fluid pressure,;

torvarious closure applying units.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another form of..the-improvedapparatus wherein the two cylinders thereof are arranged one within the other.

1 .30 Figure 15 is a view of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 14 illustrating a modification.

*Figure 16 is. a detail-view hereinafter to be described. 35

Figures 6, 'I-and 9 are drawn to a smaller scale and Figures 8, 10, 11', 12 and'13 to a larger scale than the remainder of the figures.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

The form of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 will first be described, and for purpose of convenience in this description it will be assumed that the bottle to be stoppered is to stand vertically and that the closure applying or removing 5 apparatus is arranged in an upright position over the bottle position. The main cylinder is designated by the reference numeral I and is intended to be fastened in the appropriate position for use in relation both to a support and to means: for holding a bottle in proper position for reception of a stopper. For this purpose the lower end of the cylinder 1 is conveniently screwthreaded as at la so that it can be screwed into an outstanding lug 20, formed or provided'on a.

supporting bracket 2. This bracket may be formed on a suitable part of a machine (as hereinafter explained) or it may be adapted to be secured in situ.

At its upper end the cylinder l is covered by a cap or cover 3 of mainly cylindrical form the lower edge of the skirt of which fits within the cylinder. The cap is formed with an annular flange 3a which rests upon a supporting ring 4 screwed on to the outside of the cylinder at the extreme upper end thereof and is surmounted by a part 31) adapted to support the means hereinafter to be described for controlling the fluid pressure to the apparatus. At its lower end the cylinder 1 has a gland or stufiing box 5 through which is adapted to slide a plunger-like body 6. The body 6 is of tubular form and the external diameter thereof is less than the inner diameter of the cylinder 5 so that between the two there is an annular space or. Near its upper end the said plunger-like body has on the outside of it an annular flange Ea which is adapted to support a series of rings and suitable packing washers held up to it by a nut or nuts on the end of the body. The various rings and washers constitute a piston having a sliding fluid-tight fit in the bore of the cylinder I. In the specific ex ample illustrated the said piston includes a lower ring 1 which rests on the flange 6a., a central ring 8 and an upper ring la, the three rings being so shaped as to be enabled to accommodate between them two packing washers such as 9. These rings and washers are held up to the flange Ed by a nut ill which is screwed on to the outside of the plunger-like body 6. At the extreme upper end of the said body is a further ring H which constitutes the upper part of the piston and is screwed on to the body next to the nut ID. The ring I! is of special formation for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

Screwed into the lower end of the body 6 is a bush 92 which is internally screw-threaded as at Ma, and has passing through it an Archimedean screw is fitted on its upper end with a nut M to limit downward screwing motion of the screw through the bush. The Archimedean screw l3 has attached to or, as shown, formed upon its lower end the second cylinder B5 of the apparatus. This cylinder is smaller than the main cylinder I and, as will be seen, is arranged in axial alignment therewith. A hollow chuck body 16 which houses the upper ends of a pair of chuck jaws H is screwed into or, as shown, ontothe lower end of the cylinder i5. These jaws are kept in place in the chuck body it by a flanged collar l8 screwed upon the outside of the said body and fastened by a locknut IS. The lower ends of the jaws project downwards through and below the collar 18 and are interiorly shaped in a suitable manner to receive and hold the circular head of a screw stopper.

The jaws H are capable of a pivotal movement in the chuck body 55 so that the said lower ends can be moved relatively towards and from each other to close and open the chuck for respectively gripping and releasing the stoppers. To this end each jaw has a rounded flange-like projection Ha on the outside disposed about midway between the. opposite ends and these projections are located in an annular space 1) between opposing faces on the collar l8 and chuck body. The jaws are vertically arranged in the chuck and free to tilt Or rock on the aforesaid projections which serve as pivots, the arrangement being such that when the upper ends of the jaws move inwards i. e. towards each other the lower ends move outwards i. e. away from each other, and vice versa.

Passing centrally and longitudinally through a transverse partition 56a in the chuck body :6 is a rod 20 the upper end of which extends into the cylinder to and has fastened upon it a piston of suitable form capable of sliding and having a fluid-tight fit within the said cylinder. In the specific construction illustrated this piston is constituted by two rings 2! and 22 mounted on the upper end of the slide rod (or piston rod) 28 which is suitably reduced to form a circumferential shoulder 2a; adapted to support the rings.

A packing washer 23 is interposed between the 9 two rings and the latter are held up to the shoulder 20a by means of a nut 24. The part of the rod 29 which extends from the partition we is of such length as to space the piston away from thepartition. Surrounding this part of the rod 11' is a helical compression spring 25 the opposite ends of which bear against the underside of the associated piston and the partition ita respectively. The natural and normal action of this spring is to move the said piston upwards away from the partition thereby lifting the rod 2% The lower end of the slide rod 28 extends down between the jaws W and at or near its extremity is enlarged or has rounded humps 20b on its opposite sides and is thereby adapted to act against inclined faces Nb on the inside of the jaws disposed below the pivots. Above the pivots and near their upper ends the jaws are recessed on the inside as at No and on its opposite sides adjacent to the recesses in the jaws the slide rod is similarly recessed as at Zllc. Located between the recessed slide rod and jaws are toggle blocks or levers 25 which have their inner ends disposed in the recesses Ho while their outer ends are disposed in the recesses 200. The arrangement of the parts described is such that a downward movement of the rod 2!] in relation to the screw 13 and chuck body l6 tends to straighten the toggle blocks or levers 26 so that the latter push the upper ends of the chuck jaws i1 outwards thus closing the lower ends towards each other, and an upward movement of the said rod in relation to the screw and chuck body breaks the toggle upwards and the enlarged or humped parts 2811 act against the opposing inclines ill) to force the lower ends of the jaws away from each other. In this way relative movement between the slide rod and screw is in one direction closes the chuck and relative movement between the said parts in the other direction opens the chuck. Thus the normal action of the spring 25 is to open the chuck. 7

Assuming the nut Hi to be resting on the upper end of the threaded bush l2 and the plungerlike body 6 to be held from movement within the cylinder I, then fluid pressure in the lower cylinder i5 is high enough to overcome the resistance of the spring 25 and will press the piston associated with the rod 2i! downwards and thus close the chuck jaws ll; upon said fluid pressure being released or'dropped below that of the said spring the latter will re-act and lift the piston and rod to open the chuck jaws.

The bush i2 projects below the lower end of the plunger-like body 5 and fits within a bracket 21 suitably attached to or fitted on said body. A tongue piece Zia formed on the bracket 2'5 at the rear thereof is adapted to project into a vertical guideway 28, the arrangement being such that as the plunger-like body moves up and. down the tongue-piece slides up and down the guideway and consequently prevents the body from turning. Conveniently, and. as shown, the bush I2 is formed at its lower end with a circumferential flange Mb which fits in an enlarged lower portion of the bore 2% in the bracket 21.

In order to allow the downward movement of the rod 26 to occur within the cylinder l5 to close the chuck before downward movement of the plunger-like body 6 takes place there is provided an abutment with which the bracket 21 or a part thereon makes contact. Conveniently the abutment consists of a short horizontal portion of a cam 29 (the form of which will be hereinafter described) and a roller 30 mounted to rotate in the bracket 21 is arranged to make contact with this cam. The roller 30'is mounted to rotate about'a stud 3| suitably screwed into the bracket and ball bearings 32 are provided to enable the roller to run smoothly. After closure of the chuck the cylinder apparatus moves bodily, as will be described later herein, so that the roller or equivalent part on the bracket 21 rides down an inclined part of the cam 29 whereupon the body 6 and Archimedean screw 13 move downwards until the stopper is arrested by contact with the bottle after which the body 6 continues its downward movement during which the screw-threaded bush l2 acting as a nut imparts rotation to the screw thus screwing the stopper into the bottle.

Since both the movement of the stopper to the bottle and the screwing of the stopper in the bottle is efiected by the action of a fluid medium, preferably compressed air, the closure applying apparatus operates with a degree of flexibility which permits temporary retardation, if required, while the thread on the screw stopper feels for and finds the thread in the bottle throat and which also permits the rotary motion of the stopper and chuck to be arrested by the tightening of the stopper in the bottle against the pressure of the acting fluid medium. In other words the acting fluid medium, especially when aeriform, acts like a cushion so that as the screw stopper is being applied to the bottle the pressure downwards on the bottle and also rotationally on the stopper is yieldingly applied which method facilitates correct entrance of the screw shank of the stopper into the screw throat of the bottle for commencement of the screwing in motion and also enables the stopper to be screwed tightly down, it being understood that the pressure of the acting fluid is regulated to act within the strength of the bottle and closure to prevent breakage of either.

In the example now being described fluid pressure is admitted to the lower cylinder IE to act on the piston therein and hence move the rod downwards to close the jaws I! through a tube 33 of comparatively small diameter which extends longitudinally through the centre of the plungerlike body 6 and also through the screw l3, which latter is formed with a central bore I3a. to permit of the passage of the tube. At its upper end the central tube extends both through the cap 3 and a bore in the part 3b and is screwed into the bottom of a housing 34 which is mounted on and supported by the said part. This housing is adapted to accommodate means, for example, and as shown, a two-way valve such as 35, for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from the apparatus and is formed at the bottom thereof with a flange 3% which is adapted to fit into a recess in the top of the part 3b and to be held down by means of one or more screws, such as 35. The central tube 33 communicates with the interior of the valve housing through a small hole 3'! which in turn connects with a vertical passage 38. Fluid is also exhausted from the cylinder l5 at the appropriate times through the tube 33 in the manner hereinafter more fully described. In the region of the upper end of the bush E2 the tube 33 passes through packing elements, such as 39 and 40, which are accommodated in a small cylindrical chamber 4| screwed onto the'upper end of the Archimedean screw l3 next to the nut M.

A suitable hole, such as 42, is provided in the cap 3 for the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from the main cylinder l and such fluid is conveyed from the valve housing 34 to the interior of the cap by means of a pipe 43. In Figure 1 this pipe is shown'in dot-and-dash lines since it would not actually appear in the sectional view shown. An inlet 44 is provided at or near the bottom of the cylinder I for fluid to act upon the underside of the piston associated with the plunger-like body 6 to move the latterupwards at the appropriate times. In the preferred arrangement the cylinder I below the piston therein is permanently subject to fluid pressure. Thus, when the valve 35 is appropriately manipulated to admit pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 1 the plunger-like body 6 is moved down against the pressure below the piston on said body due to the difference in cross-sectional area; after such movement and by opening the valve to exhaust the pressure in the upper part of the main cylinder l the plunger like body '5 is raised again.

Now, as will be readily appreciated, the residual air within the plunger-like body 6 is compressed when the latter is moved down. The pressure of this residual air acts on the top of the chamber GI and hence also on the screw I3 and Would be sufficient to cause breakage to the stoppers and/or the bottles if means were not provided to permit of the escape of the air from the interior of the body 6 during its downward movement. To enable such escape means of any suitable character may be provided. In the form of the apparatus now being described the said means comprise an open-ended tube 45 which is arranged to surround the central tube 33 and adapted to communicate with the atmosphere at its upper end. The internal diameter of the tube 45 is greater than the external diameter of the tube 33 so that between the two tubes there is an annular space 0. At its upper end the tube .5 is screwed into the part so and retained in position by a nut 46. At this end, moreover, the said tube is open to a chamber a! within the part 3?) which chamber connects with an outlet 47. If desired, and as shown, a nipple such as 48 may be associated with the outlet so that the latter can also serve, when required, for the admission of lubricant. The arrangement just described is therefore such that whenever the body 6 moves downwards the residual air therein is forced up the annular space 0 and out hrough the outlet 47. In passing it may be mentioned that the chamber 01 also accommodates a nut 49 which retains the tube 33 in position. The tube 45 passes through and is prevented from lateral displacement by the ring H aforesaid which is carried up over the top of the body 6 and formed with an axial bore of approximately the same diameter as the external diameter of the tube. The upper portion of the ring H is recessed for the reception of a packing washer 50 and is covered at the top by a member St. The length of the tube 45 is such that it is at all times surrounded by the ring H. The housling 'the ifiuid pressurewillnow'be descrihedtmore fully withreference to-Figures 2,.3, .4 and 5. .As

will :be seen, "the-housing .is provided with: a' valve chamber 53417 of :cylindrical form which :is ppen atone side,'i. e.: at ithe rear, butznormally adapted to be closed by a cover 52. This cover .is con-- venientlyscrewedintoithe chamber and formed with an outwardly projecting boss 52min which is fitted one end of1a pipe :53 for the supply .of fiuid to'the chamber (see Figure 4). Thevallve 35 is conveniently'of a rotarygcharacter andconsists .of a disc which, as shown in Figure :5, is formed on .one side thereof with an inlet port 35a and two exhaust ports 35b and .350. .All three ports are 'in :theform ;of slots, the :depth of which is approximately half the width of the valve. The port .3511 is of arcuate form .and is formed centrally-thereof with a hole 35d which extends through to-the opposite side of the valve, while the two ports 35b and 350 are of shorter extent and obliquely disposed. The valve :is adapted to 'betfitted on the end of .a spindle 54 mounted to rotateiin a suitableibearing 2340 which constitutes apart of thevalve .housing'and pID- jects forwardly from "the chamber 34b. When the valve is in position it;is accommodated within the chamberwith the side thereof formedwith the inlet andexhaust ports :flat againstthe inner wall of said chamber, thezcover :52 beingshaped so as to providea space betweenfit and-the other side of the valve. A short passage or hole 55 is provided between the pipe 43. and thezvalvechamher and twoholes 56 .and 57 formed .in'the casing 34 .(see more ;particularly:.Figure 3) servexto .exhaust fluid pressure from the cylinders :of athe apparatus .at -;the appropriate :times.

The valve arrangementjais such :that when :the spindle 154 :is rotated;to bring the valve into the position indicatedin Figure 5, the rexhaustport 35b connects the holes 31 and .56 and ithe'por't 35c similarly connects the 'holes 55 and 15] ;so thatfluid in the cylinders :I and l5is exhausted. If :now the valvezis turned through'approximately in a clockwise direction, the said exhaust ports are imoved clear of the various holes and the inlet port 35a covers the .hole .55 thus admitting fluid pressure to the main :cylinder "I only. By suitably turning the valve :spindle the inlet port 35a can be made to :cover the hole '3'! alone, or it can be made to cover .both'theholes 31 and '55 to admit fluid pressure to cylinders l and i5 simultaneously. Moreover, .the arrange ment of the various :holes :and ports is such that the valve 35 can be turned to such a .position that the holes 31 and ,55are both ,closedan'd by doing this at an appropriate time'an earlier cut oil can be achievedfor the purpose aforesaid.

The closure applying apparatus described may be adapted for use as a :single unit the fiu'idapressure being controlled :manually,:.by pedal or-mechanically. Two or :more of .such units :mayxbe associated for use, in "which case they may be subject to individual or common fluid pressure control.

However, the improved apparatus .is'mainly. intended for embodiment in a machine for automatically applying screwed stoppers to bottles. A machine suitablefor this purpose will nowbe described with reference to Figures 16-13.

As shown in Figures v6 and 7, the machineds provided with a circular drum 58 arranged tomevolVe about a vertical axis. on the outside of .it a plurality of the .closure applying .units described with reference to Fig- This drum :carries' ing 3'4 "aforesaid rand :the y'alve :35 Tior controlures .-.1-:5, the .brackets 2 supporting :the -main cylinder I being-rigidly .attachedin any suitable mannerto the periphery of the drum, conveniently at the upper end thereof. The axes of the closure applying units are vertical and suitably spaced apart around the drum. The drum periphery also has in it, or, as shown in Figure 7, on it a seriesof vertical guideways 28 for :reception of the :tongues -2'laonthe slidable brackets 21 aforesaid. The drum is secured to a spindle 59 which is vertically disposed and mounted 'to rotate in suitable bearingsin the machine-frame. In the specific example illustrated,'the upper end of the spindle is mounted in a bearing a formed'on a plateBll whilst'the lowerendthereof :is yjournalled in a bearing 61a formed on .a pedestal :or base portion -6l. A nut 62 serves to prevent the spindle from axial displacement. The plate 69 is disposed above the closure applying units-and isbolted'to a ringrii3 supported on vertical zcolumns suchas -64, which are conveniently mounted at 'their lower ends in sockets or equivalent parts'65 formed or provided onzthe baseportion 64. The spindle 59 is adapted to be driven by .any suitable means. Conveniently it is driven from a main shaftlili through gearing such as -6-1, -68 .accommodated in a housing -69 providedat the upperend of thepedestal or base portion and adapted to serve as an oil bath. The gearing in'the specificexample illustrated acomprises a worm .6 1 on theshaft 66 which meshes with and drives'a worm wheel 68 adapted to rotatethe spindle and for this purpose :bolted to a flange 10a on 'a collar "it rigidly securedto the spindle. The .main shaft '66 *extends through the housing :69 and has attached thereto -a 'driving pulley H adapted .to-be driven, e. g. froma motor or belt shafting .(see Figure 6).

A circumferential rflange .101) formed at 'the upper end of the collar 10 constitutes an annu- 1 lar shelf or table to support the bottles to be stoppered. In Figures 6 and '7 such'bottles are indicated at 12 -and stoppered-bottles-at T3. "The shelf or table-is, of course, positioned belowthe jaws H --of the various chucks and extends at right angles to the drum axis, Alternatively the shelf or table may be formed on the drum .58 which .latter would :then be carried down to a lower extentithanshown. Centrally below :each closure applying unit the shelf or table may, as shown, be recessed for the reception of a bottle supportingpad .14. The bottles l2 tobestoppered are-carried tothe machine by a conveyor suchias 75, from which they are taken by a suitable transferring-device,.suchas it. The conveyor is arranged tangentially to the bottle carrier shelf or table-and has associated therewith rails, such as H, to guide the bottles 12 into the device '76 and from said device onto the shelf or table 191). The device is conveniently of star-wheel formation (see Figure *8) and is so shaped as to be capable of placing :each bottle in register with the screw l3 and chuck jaws ll of the corresponding closure applying unit. The transferring device i6, moreover, is removably mounted on a short'vertical spindle 1.8 and is adapted to bedriven in Ztimed relation with. the operation-of the :machine. In the specificexample being=described the spindle i'lB:.is rotatably mounted in a bracket 75.9 secured .to one of the columns M below the upper runof'the conveyor and has associated therewith a gear wheel .89 arranged to mesh withanother gear wheel .8! bolted to the underside of the shelf or table 19b. "By making the transferring device removable it .can be readily changed for a device of another size to suit different sized bottles. A device 82 similar to the device 16 is provided at the opposite side of the machine to transfer stoppered bottles I3 from the .shelf or table 10b back on to the conveyor which latter then delivers the bottles from the machine. The pads I4 aforesaid are preferably made of rubber or similar material having a non-slip surface and in this way each bottle is effectively prevented from rotating while it is being stoppered. Alternatively, and for the same purpose, means of any suitable character may be provided for holding the bottles firmly during their travel on the shelf or table.

The screw stoppers for the bottles, such as that indicated at 83, are taken e. g. mechanically, from a hopper (not shown) and by appropriate means now to be described are brought one at a time into a position in the circular path of the travelling chucks. The stoppers are fed into chambers 84a provided in a circular magazine 84 which is adapted to be intermittently rotated in timed relation with the operation of the machine to bring the chambers successively into the vertical stopper taking position indicated at f, Figure 6, where they register with a slot 85 in the magazine casing 86 or in a cover plate, such as 860. (Figure 8) applied thereto. In Figure 7 this cover has been removed to reveal the magazine chambers 84a. Each chuck approaches the position 1 with its jaws ll open and when it reaches the stopper in the chamber which is then at this position, it pushes the stopper from the magazine, through the slot 85, and along a short curved track 81 concentric with the axis of the drum 58. As shown clearly in Figure 8, this track consists of two curved guide rails 87a which are arranged parallel to each other and'secured at their inner ends to the magazine casing. The flanged head of a stopper is supported on the upper edges of the rails while the screwed shank thereof extends downwardly between the sides of the rails (see Figure 11). During the time a stopper is moved along the track 81 the jaws ll of the corresponding chuck are closed to grip the stopper.

The casing 85 is mounted on a bracket 88 secured to any suitable stationary part of the machine,whilst the magazine itself is attached to a spindle 89 which is rotatably mounted in the said casing and adapted to be intermittently rotated through a fractional part of a revolution. For this purpose the spindle has on it a worm wheel 98 which meshes with a worm 9| associated with a vertical spindle 92 mounted to rotate, e. g. in suitable bearings in the magazine bracket 83. Attached to this spindle is a starwheel 93 which is adapted to be racked round at the appropriate times by means of a circular series of cams or equivalent elements rotating at the same speed as the various other rotary parts of the machine. Conveniently, and as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the star-wheel 93 is racked round by a circular series of rollers 96 which act on the radially extending arms of the wheel in succession. Each of these rollers is mounted on the underside of a plate which is attached to, e. g. by a bolt 95, and projects radially from a flange 97a on a flanged collar 9'5 which surrounds the central spindle 59 and is interposed between the lower end of the drum 58 and the bottle shelf or table Nib. The collar 91 is bolted to the said drum and the shelf or table so that it rotates in company therewith. To prevent the star-Wheel from rotating between racking movements it is formed with a part 93a having a series of flat surfaces one of which is brought into and remains for the required time in contact with an upstanding part 95a on one of the plates 95 after each partial rotation of the wheel. One of the parts 95a is formed or provided on the top of each plate 95 andoperates in the manner illustrated clearly in Figure 8.

The arrangement just described is therefore such that stoppers 83 previously inserted in the chambers 840. are brought one at a time to the stopper-taking position 1. Moreover, it should be understood that the chucks take a stopper one after-another as they come around to this position and after each stopper has been taken by a chuck another is brought into position for the next chuck coming around.

The movements of the plunger-like bodies 5 of the various closure applying units are controlled, that is to say, said bodies are prevented from moving too quickly, by a cam 29 which, in the specific example illustrated, is of the form illustrated more clearly in Figure 9 and is arranged to surround the circular series of units. The rollers 35 run on the cam as hereinafter more fully explained and the latter is supported on small brackets, such as 98, Figure 7, which are attached for example by bolts 99 to the columns 64 aforesaid.

From a central box or chamber I00 on the top of the revolving drum 58, suitable pipe connections are made to the valve housings 3t and cylinders I of the closure applying units and compressed air is supplied to the box or chamber through a pipe IiiI which conveniently communicates with suitable passages 59a, 59b in the central spindle 59. In the arrangement illustrated a pipe I52 connects each of the inlets M aforesaid With the air box or chamber while each of the pipes 55 for supplying air to the valve housings 34 are connected with the pipe I02 of the corresponding unit, e. g. by a T such as IE3.

In this machine the valve spindle 54 of each closure applying unit projects outwardly from the corresponding bearing 34c and is fitted with arms for rotating it. Each spindle is furnished with a two-limbed front arm I04, a singlearmed rear arm I05 extending at right angles to the arm IE4 and a middle arm I06 which is similar to, but extends in the opposite direction to the said rear arm. The three arms are suitably spaced apart by collars I07 and are retained in position by a nut I08 screwed on to the outer end of the valve spindle (see more particularly Figure 4).

As will be seen, the arms associated with the various valve spindles 54 are disposed near to the stationary ring 63 aforesaid and the said arms are operated at the appropriate times by tappets associated with and suitably spaced apart around the ring. As the arms revolve with the units on the drum 58 they make contact with the said tappets and by such contact are turned to operate the two-Way valves 35 in a manner necessary to effect correct operation of the closure applying units.

One of these tappets is indicated at I09 and is mounted beneath the ring 63 at a position A (Figure 9) just in advance of the stopper-taking position ,2. This tappet is adapted to act on the rear arms I05 to open the valves 35 to admit compressed air to the main cylinders I and is associated with mechanism whereby such admission of air is obtained only in the event of a bottle I2 being presented to the machine. The said mechanism conveniently'consists, as shown in Figures 6, 8 and 10, of alever. IIEI located in the path of the-bottles I2 and connected with the tappet I69 which'is movably arranged; In the specific arrangement illustrated, the tappet IE9, which may be quadrant-shaped, is mounted on a rockshaft II:I- carried horizontally and mounted to rotate in brackets H2; and H3 bolted to the underside of the ring 63. The intermediate connectionsbetween-the shaft III and the lever III] consist of. bevel gearing such as- H4, H5, and a vertical rockshaft IIB to which the lever is attached. Normally the tappet is located out of the-path of the arms I95 aforesaid but is moved intothe said path when a bottle I2 makes contact with and as a result moves the lever Ill Spring means such as- III' may, as shown, be provided for restoring the mechanism to normal position after operation by a bottle. If the lever III]: is not operated by a bottle so-that pressure isnot admitted to the cylinder I of the corresponding closure applying. unit, the operations which normally take place in'said unit subsequent to such pressure admission are not performed. Now, theclosure a'pplyingunits approach the tappet I09in-succession-with the'rollers 3B in contact with: the raised portion 29a of the cam 29 (see Figure. 9). Thus if pressure is admitted to the main cylinder I of a unit in the manner just described; the corresponding plunger-like body 5 is first. moveddown slightly to an extent permitted. by the cam 29 (that is to say until the roller 3ll-rests onthe'horizontal part 2% of said cam)- and as a consequence the chuck descends openlupon a stopper in the magazine 84. On the other hand, if pressure is not admitted to the main. cylinder of a unit the latter moves round the machine with its roller 30-on the level X and the chuck jaws I'I- on a level Y clear. of the stopper magazine.

An arrangement of the character described whereby admission of fluid pressure is obtained only in the event. of acontainer being presented to the machine may, of course, also be'applied to a: machine provided with only one closure applying unit.

Another tappet, such asI I8; is provided at position B; thisztappet being adapted to act on one.

limb of each; of the front arms I04 to effect operation of the-two way. valves 35 in such a manner as to:close'the jaws I l-of the chucks by admitting compressed". air to the lower cylinders I5. The tappet H8 is. associated'with mechanismwhereby inthe event of a screw stopper 83 not beingdelivered for application to a bottle the pressuresin.

themain cylinder I of the corresponding closure applying unit is relieved shortly after being admitted, and this mechanism will now be described with. reference to Figures 6,8, 11 and l2.v

Conveniently the? mechanism comprises a lever H9 adaptedzto be actedupon by a screw stopper and intermediate parts adapted to eifect operation of a valve 35rto open the exhaust passages the event of. the: lever not being acted upon by a stopper;.

The lever I I9 is pivotally mounted between the two rails B'Iaof the :curved track BIaforesaid and is attached to one end of a: short spindle I20- the opposite'end of the spindle I'M} is-an arm I22.

tothe outerend of. which is attached a coupling member I23 whichserves to connect the arm with a vertical rod I24, and the arrangement is such that as astopper is moved by a chuck along the track 87, the lower end of the. shank of the stopper makes contact with and depresses the lever H9 with the result that the arm I22" is turned: and the rod I24 pulled downwardly. Conveniently, and as shown more clearly in Figure 11, apinand-slot. connection is .providedbetween. the arm andthe member I23; The tappet II8 inthespecific arrangement shown consists of. a small bar. which is slidable in a bracket I25 bolted to the underside of the ring 63'. An. auxiliary tappet I26 of similar form is mounted to. slide in the said bracket and is disposed below and parallel to the tappet M8. so that it can act on the other limbs of the front arms Hi l. The two tappetsare linked together by a pivoted member I21 which is secured to-a spindle I28 rotatably mounted in: the bracket I25. This spindle extends between. the tappets 8- and I26. at right angles thereto and at one end projects laterally from the bracket whereit: is connected tothe upper. end of the rod IZG; for example, by means of an: intermediate connecting link, such. as: I295 A spring I30. (see Figure 6) normally acts to retain'the partsof the mechanism just described in the positions indicated: in Figures 11 and. 12, with. the operative end of the tappet I26 projecting fromthe bracket. I25 and the corresponding end of the tappet H8 withdrawn. That is to say, the tappet I28 normally occupies an operative position in relation to the-path of the front arms Ifi I' while the tappet I I8 normally occupies an inoperative position in relation to said path.

Now, if a stopper is properly delivered it depresses the lever II9 with. the result that the tappet M8 is projecteda-nd'the tappet I26 withdrawn. Consequently as the next closure applying unit passes the position 13, the-- appropriate limb of the arm Ills-thereof is operated by the tappet H8 and pressure is admitted to the cylinder I5: of the unit. If, however;v a stopper is not: delivered, the tappet I26 acts onthe other limb of the said arm and rotates the valve to such a position that pressure is exhausted'from themainzcylinderl ofthe lllllt-WhiCh otherwise tappet which. as shown in detail in Figure 13,

convenientlyv consists of a roller mounted on a bracket it2ibolted to the underside of the ring 63 is so positioned (approximately at D; FigureQ) that the front arm of aclosure applying unit is acted upon forthe intended purpose immediately said unit has inserted: a. stopper into a bottle.

In" the machine-illustrated the air supply to each unit is maintained for the major portion of the stopper inserting" operation, after which the supply to said unit is cut off to enable the air. therein to work. expansively as hereinbefore mentioned. For this latter purpose a tappet. 5-33: of a form similar to-the exhaust tappet I35 and mounted on a bracket I3 3 is provided at C, i. e. in advance of thersaid'exhaust tappet, and is adapted to act on the'middle arms IIl-Iias the units come around-so that the valves are turned to positions whereinneither thev pressure nor the exhaust. passages therein are opened and by doing this an earlier out. off can be achieved.

ill

When finally both the cylinders of any of the closure applying units are exhausted, the chuck jaws I! open and the various parts are returned to normal position as previously described.

In explanation of Figure 9 it should here be mentioned that the distance g represents the complete circumference of the machine. Moreover, the closure applying units travel in the direction of the arrow marked on this figure and while it appears at first sight that the tappets I3I and I 33 are positioned in advance of the admission tappets I39 and H8, this is not so since each stopper applying operation commences at the point A. As will be seen, the horizontal portion 29b of the cam 29 is of such length as to support those rollers 3l gpreviously moved down into contact with said portion and prevent the corresponding plunger-like bodies 6 from moving downwardly to take the stoppers to the bottles until the jaws ll of the corresponding chucks have been closed to grip the stoppers. After this has been done each of the said rollers in turn rides down an inclined part 290 of the cam to control the downward movement of'the corresponding plunger-like body 6 and subsequently rides up an oppositely inclined part 2901 to control the upward movement of said body after the termination of a stoppering operation.

In this machine the bottles, during the stoppering operations, are carried around the axis of the machine by the revolving drum 58 but they do not rot-ate about their own axes, the necessary rotation for screwing in the stoppers being effected by the Archimedean screws I3 and the associated chucks.

Instead of having a plurality of closure applying units the machine herein described may be provided with only one such unit.

The constructional form of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 14 and 16 will now be described.

The outer cylinder I35 is closed by a cover, such as I36, or otherwise at its upper end while at its lower end it has a gland or stuifing box I31 through which the body of the inner cylinder I38 slides as a piston rod or plunger. ,The inner cylinder is of tubular form the external diameter of its body being less than the inner diameter of the outer cylinder so that between the two there is an annular space. Near its upper end the inner cylinder body I38 has on the outside of it an annular flange I350; which in conjunction with suitable packing washers, such as I39, and rings Hill and MI held up to it by nuts, such as I42, on the end of the cylinder body forms a piston having a sliding fluid-tight fit in the bore of the outer cylinder I35.

The upper end of the inner cylinder is open to the interior of the outer cylinder. Screwed into the lower end of the inner cylinder I38 is a bush I43 held by a locknut I44 so that the bush can be adjusted in the cylinder. This bush is internally screw threaded as at M311 and has passing through it an Archimedean screw M5 fitted on its upper end with a nut I45 and locknut I41 to limit downward screwing motion of the screw through the threaded bush. TheArchimedean screw has formed upon or attached to its lower end a hollow chuck body M8 which houses the upper ends of a pair of chuck jaws I1. These jaws are kept in place in the chuck body by a flanged collar HIS screwed upon the outside of the said body and fastened by a locknut I55. The lower ends of the jaws project downwards through and below the collar and are interiorly shaped in a suitable manner to receive and hold the circular head, such as I5I, of a screw stopper. The jaws will not be particularly described since the construction thereof is precisely the 7 same as that of the jaws in the previously described form of the apparatus.

Passing centrally and longitudinally through the screw I45 is a rod 29 capable of endwise movement in the screw. The lower end of this rod extends down between the jaws I7 and engages the latter in the same manner in which the rod 20 engages the jaws in the first described apparatus.

The upper end of the slide rod 20 extends through and beyond the upper end of the Archimedeanscrew and it has fastened upon it a piston I53 of suitable form capable of sliding and having a fluid-tight fit within the inner cylinder I38. The part of the slide rod which extends from the upper end of the screw is of such length as to space the piston away from the locknut I41. Surrounding this exposed part of the rod is a helical compression spring I54 the opposite ends of which bear against the underside of the piston I53 and the locknut I41 respectively. The natural and normal action of this spring is to move the piston upwards away from the screw I45 thereby lifting the slide rod 25 and opening the chuck jaws.

The screw-threaded bush I43 projects below the lower end of the inner cylinder and is enlarged in diameter to form an inverted circular head I 43?) the periphery of which is formed with fine teeth l43c. Clamped about the toothed periphery of thehead is a two-part clip I55 (one part only of which is shown) having a lug I55 which projects into a vertical guideway I51. As the inner cylinder body moves up and down the lug I56 slides up and down the guideway and the clip I55 prevents, the said body from turning. By detaching the clip and slackening the locknut I44 the screwed bush can be turned to adjust it in the cylinder I38.

In order to allow the downward movement of the rod 20' to occur within the Archimedean screw I45 to close the chuck jaws I'I before downward movement of the inner cylinder body I38 takes place there is provided an abutment I58 with which the clip I55 makes contact. After closure of the chuck the abutment is displaced or the apparatus moves bodily so that the clip passes 01f the abutment, whereupon the cylinder body and screw move downwards until the stopper is arrested by contact with the bottle in a manner similar to that mentioned in connection with the previously described form of the invention.

Fluid pressure admitted to the top of the outer cylinder I35 acts upon the piston I53 in the inner cylinder I38 and this pressure also acts upon the piston on the outside of the inner cylinder body to move the latter down when permitted. A suitable inlet I59 is provided at or near the bottom of the outer cylinder for fluid to act upon the underside of the piston on the inner cylinder body to move the latter upwards.

The fluid pressure may be controlled by any suitable means to give the action required.

It is essential that when the inner cylinder body reaches its normal raised position the Archimedean screw should assume its normal dropped position. In order to prevent the bush I43 in the inner cylinder from lifting the screw I45 too high two brackets such as I60 (see Figure 16) are fixed in a suitable position each carrying a roller or small wheel I 6|. If when the inner cylinder rises the Archimedian screw does not under the influence of gravity unscrew down wards through the bush the flange on the collar 149 comes up agaist the rollers or small wheels which prevent the chuck from rising further. The rollers 01' small wheels thusact as abutments toarrest upward movement of the chuck when it reaches its normal position and during any further rise of the inner cylinder body the screw, being forcibly held from further rise by the abutments, is rotated by the bush during which rotation the flange on the collar Hi9 runs around in contact with the rollers or wheels which themselves rotate to permit free rotation 1 of the chuck.

The rotatory abutments I61 just described by limiting the rise of the chuck may also serve to limit the rise of the inner cylinder body 538 in this Way that further rise of the said body is prevented when the upper end of the screwthreaded bush M3 makes contact with the nut 16.. By thus ensuring that the chuck and inner cylinder body return to their proper normal positions the chuck not only occupies the proper level but is also caused to assume the proper position rotationally for receiving or taking the next stopper in cases where the stoppers are automatically fed or delivered to the chuck or are taken by the chuck from a stopper feeding or supplying means.

Instead of having the inner cylinder I38 open at the top to the interior of the outer cylinder I35, the inner cylinder body'may havea-coverlfiion its top end in which case a pipe Hi3 extending upwards from the cover isslidable through a; stufling box or gland I64: onthe top cover 535 of the outer cylinder. This pipe communicates with the interior of the inner cylinder and enables fluid pressure to be admitted" to the inner and outer cylinders independently This: arrange-- ment is similar to the arrangement describedwith reference to Figure 1 since it permits the chuck to be operated for opening and closing. independently oithe actuation of the inner cylinderbody withinthe outer cylinder,

In this instance, moreover; the abutment 58 can. be obviated asthe movement of the inner cylinder body can be controlled by the fluid pres sure? inthe outer. cylinder independently of that in the inn r. cylinder.v

For. removing screw stoppers: with either of? the forms of". apparatus herein. described the appa'.- ratus is arranged and operatediso that the chuck descends openupon the stoppera'fterwhich. the chuck. jaws: are. closed; to:. gripthe' stopper; The. inner cylinderr'bo'dyiis thernmovediupwards cans-- ing the threaded: bush to impaittrotationto' the Archimedean screvv thusiunscrewing the stopper. following. which; the removed; stopper is carried: up by the chuckr'as' the scremriseswiththe inner cylinder body.

When the improved apparatus is; to v be; used. for: applying non-screw. closures-L for example corks, crown. corks, caps andl the. like, it may." I have a. plain rod: or some; equivalent; member;

instead; of a. screw.

The jaws-of the. chuck. in: either of: the: forms;

of the invention hereindescribedf be removable and" interchangeable with; others: to enable? the chuck to. deal; with: closures; of different-g size. and/or kind; For instance, by" removlngzthe:

flanged collar. from the chuck: body: the. jaws: can: be slipped outdownwardssand replace'diby others; The. expression apparatus; for dealing: with:

containers and: closurestherefor.- hereinafter:-

used in the appended claims is a generic expression intended to include both the application of closures to and removal thereof from containers.

What I claim then is:

1. Apparatus for dealing with containers and closures therefor comprising, in combination, a holder having gripping members capable of receiving and holding between them a closure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a member associated both with said piston and the holder and'adapted to close the said gripping members to grip a closure when the piston is caused to move in an appropriate direction in the cylinder,

spring means associated with saidmember and adapted, when permitted, to efiect an opening movement of the gripping members, a second cylinder, a piston in said second. cylinder, said last mentioned piston. being adapted when it works within said second cylinder to efiect movement" of the holder. towards and from a container to be dealt with, and means for effecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders, whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders for the intended purpose.

sure, a cylinder,.a piston in said cylinder, a member associated. both with said piston and the holder and adapted'tooperate the latter when the piston works within the cylinder, another cylinder, a piston in said second cylinder, said piston being adapted when it works withinits cylinder to effect movement of the holder towards and from a container to be dealt with, means in association with said second-mentioned cylinder and piston for imparting the necessary rotatory movement to the holder, and means for effecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders whereby the. pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders to deal with a closure and subsequently'return the parts of the apparatus to normal position;

3. Apparatus for dealing with containers and closures therefor comprising, in combination,. a holder adapted to receive and grip a closure, a cylinder, a pistonin said cylinder, a member associated both with said piston and the holder and adapted to operate the latter when the piston works within the cylinder, another cylinder arranged tandem fashion in axial alinement with the first cylinder, a piston in said second cylinder, said piston being adapted when it works within its cylinder'to effect movement of the holder towards and from a container to be dealt with, and means for effecting admission-and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders for the intended purpose.

4. Apparatus for applying screw closures to containers comprising, in combination, a main cylinder, a plunger having upon it a piston adapted to work within said cylinder, a nut which is carried by said plunger, an Archimedean screw which extends through the nut, a second cylinder on said screw, a holder associated with said second cylinder and adapted to receive'and grip a closure, a piston in said second cylinder, a memiii the cylinders whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders to operate the holder so that it grips a closure, move said holder toa container to be closed, effect rotation of the holder to apply the closure and subsequently return the parts of the apparatus to normal position.

5. Apparatus for applying screw closures to containers comprising, in combination, a main cylinder, a plunger having upon it a piston adapted to work within said cylinder, a nut which is carried by said plunger, means for preventing the plunger from turning during movement thereof within the main cylinder, an Archimedean screw which extends through the nut, a second cylinder on said screw, a holder associated with said second cylinder and adapted to receive and grip a closure, a piston in said second cylinder, a member associated both with the piston in the second cylinder and the holder and adapted to operate the latter when the piston works within the second cylinder, and means for efiecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders to operate the holder so that it grips a closure, move said holder to a container to be closed, effect rotation of the holder to apply the closure and subsequently return the parts of the apparatus to normal position.

6. Apparatus for applying closures to containers comprising, in combination, a holder adapted it works within its cylinder to effect movement of the holder towards and from a container to be closed, means for efiecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders whereby the piston in the first-mentioned cylinder can be moved to cause the holder to grip a closure, the second-mentioned piston can subsequently be moved to effect movement of said holder and the closure towards a container to be closed and, after the closure applying operation, both pistons can be moved to return the parts of the apparatus to normal position, and means for preventing operative movement of said second-mentioned piston until the holder has been operated to grip the closure.

7. Apparatus for applying screw closures to containers, comprising .in combination, a main cylinder, a plunger having upon it a piston adapted to work within said cylinder, a part associated with the outer end of said plunger and having a projection thereon, a vertical guideway into which the said projection can project to prevent the plunger from turning during movement thereof within the main cylinder, a nut which is carried at the outer end of said plunger, an Archimedean screw which extends through the nut, a second cylinder on said screw, a holder associated with said second cylinder and adapted to receive and grip a closure, a piston in said second cylinder, a member associated both with the piston in the second cylinder and the holder and adapted to operate the latter when the piston works within the second cylinder, means for eflecting admission and release of fluid pressure toand from the cylinders whereby the pistons to operate the holder so that itgrips a closure,

move said holder to a container to be closed, effect rotation of the holder to apply the closure and subsequently return the parts of the apparatus to normal position, and an abutment with which the aforesaid part at the outer end of the plunger can make contact to prevent operative movement of the plunger until the holder has been operated to grip the closure.

8. A machine for dealing with containers and closures therefor comprising, in combination, apparatus including a holder adapted to receive and grip a closure, means operable by fluid pressure for operating the holder to grip said closure, and means also operable by fluid pressure for moving said holder towards and from a container to be dealt with, a support on which a container can be placed in proper position relatively to the holder, means for moving the support so that the container can be conveyed through the machine, means for causing the aforesaid apparatus to travel in company with the container, means for bringing closures into position to be received by the travelling holder, and means for automatically eflecting the control of fluid pressure to and from the fluid operated means at the required times so that the holder can take a closure and deal with it at the appropriate places.

9. A machine for dealing with containers and closures therefor, comprising, in combination, a drum arranged to revolve about a vertical axis, a plurality of apparatus units each including a holder adapted to receive and grip a closure, said units with their holders disposed downwards being carried on the outside of the drum, means operable by fluid pressure for operating the holder to grip said closure, and means also operable by fluid pressure for moving said holder towards and from a container to be dealt with, a container supporting shelf adapted to rotate with the drum and disposed below the holders, means for rotating the drum so that containers placed on the shelf in proper position relatively to the holders can be conveyed through the machine, means for causing the units to travel in company with the containers, means for bringing closures into position to be received by the travelling holders, and means for automatically efiecting the control of fluid pressure to and from the fluid operated means at the required times so that the holders can take closures and deal with them at the appropriate places.

10. A machine fordealing with containers and closures therefor comprising, in combination, apparatus including a holder adapted to receive and grip a closure, means operable by fluid pressure for operating the holder to grip said closure, means also operable by fluid pressure for moving said holder towards and from a container to be dealt with, a two-Way valve associated with said fluid-operated means and having passages for pressure and exhaust, and arms associated with said valve and capable of being acted on for operating the valve and effecting the admission and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from the fluid operated means so that the holder can take a closure and deal with it, stationary tappets suitably spaced apart in the machine and adapted to act upon the said arms at the required times, a support on which a container can be placed in proper position relativelyto the holder, means for moving the support so that the container can be conveyed through the machine, means for causing the aforesaid apparatus to travel in company with a container, and means for bringing.

closures into position to be received by the travelling holder.

11. A machine for dealing wit-h containers and closures therefor comprising, in combination, apparatus including a holder adapted to receive and grip a closure, means operable by fluid pressure for operating the holder to grip said closure, and means also operable by fluid pressure for moving said holder towards and from a container to be dealt with, a support on which a container can be placed in proper position relatively to the holder, means for moving the support so that the container can'be conveyed through the machine, meansfor causing the aforesaid apparatus to travel in company with the container, means for bringing closures into position to be received by the travelling holder, means for automatically efiecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the fluid operated means at the required times so that the holder can take a closure and deal with it at the appropriate places, and means for controlling said fluid pressure so that it can be cut oil for a prearranged period before release, for the purpose hereindescribed.

12. A machine for dealing with containers and closures therefor comprising, in combination, apparatus including a holder adapted to receive and grip a closure, means operable by fluid pressure for operating the holder to grip said closure, and means also operable by fluid pressure for moving said holder towards and from a container to be dealt with, a support on which a container can be placed in proper position relatively to the holder, means for moving the support so that the container can be conveyed through the machine, means for causing the aforesaid apparatus to travel in company with the container, means for bringing closures into position to be received by the travelling holder, means for automatically efiecting the control of fluid pressure to and from the fluid operated means at the required times so that the holder can take a closure and deal with it at the appropriate places, and means adapted to be acted upon by a container when it is initially presented to the machine for actuating the fluid pressure controlling means to admit pressure at the required time, whereby such admission is obtained only in the event of a container being presented to the means for dealing with the closure.

13. A machine for applying closures to containers comprising, in combination, apparatus including a holder adapted to receive and grip a closure, means operable by fluid pressure for operating the holder to grip said closure, and means also operable by fluid pressure for moving said holder towards and from a container to be closed, a support on which a container can be placed in proper position for reception of a closure, means for moving the support so that the container can be conveyed through the machine, means for causing the aforesaid apparatus to travel in company with the container, means for bringing closures into position to be received by the travelling holder, means for automatically effecting the control of fluid pressure to and from thefluid operated means at the required times so that the holder can take a closure and apply it to the container at theappropriate places, and means which are normally in a position to operate the fluid controlling means to relieve the pressure near the point where a closure is initially 7 presented to the container, said means being adapted to be rendered inoperative by a properly delivered closure, for the purpose herein described. l

14. A machine for applying screw closures to containers comprising, in combination, a drum arranged to revolve about a vertical axis, a plurality of closure applying unitscarried on the outside of the drum, each of said units including a main cylinder, a plunger having upon it a piston adapted to work within said cylinder, a nut which is carried by said plunger, an Archimedean screw which extends through the nut, a second cylinder on said screw, a holder associated with said second cylinder and adapted to receive and grip a closure, a piston in said second cylinder, a member associated both with the piston in the second cylinder and the holder and adapted to operate the latter when the piston works within the second cylinder, a two-way valve. having passages for pressure and exhaust, and arms associated with said valve and capable of being acted upon for operating the valve and effecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders, whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders to operate the holder sothat it grips a closure, move said holder to a container to be closed, effect rotation of the holder to apply the closure and subsequently return the parts of the unit to normal position, said units being disposed on the drum with their holders downwards, stationary tappets suitably spaced apart on the machine and adapted to act upon said arms at the required times, a container supporting shelf adapted to revolve with the drum and on which containers can be placed in alignment with the holders, means for rotating the drum and said supporting shelf so that the units can travel in company with the containers, and'means for bringing closures one at a time into a position to be received by the travelling holders.

l 15. A machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein means are also provided for controlling the fluid pressure so that it can be out off from the units for a prearranged period before release, for the purpose herein described.

16. A machine for applying screw closures to containers comprising, in combination, a drum arranged to revolve about a vertical axis, a plurality of closure applying units carried on the outside of the drum, each of said units including a main cylinder, a plunger having upon it a piston adapted to work within said cylinder, a

nut which is carried by said plunger, an Archimedean screw which extends through the nut, a second cylinder onv said screw, a holder associated with said second cylinder and adapted to receive and grip a closure, a piston in said second cylinder, a member associated both with the piston in the second cylinder and the hold-er and adapted to operate the latter when the piston Works within the second'cylinder, a two-way valve having passages for pressure and exhaust, and arms associated with said valve and capable of being acted upon for operating the valve and efiecting admission and release of fluid pressure- .to and from the cylinders, whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders to operate the holder so that it grips a closure, move said holder to a container to be closed, effect rotation ofv the holder to apply the closure and subsequently return the parts of the unit to normal position, said units being disposed on the drum with their holders downwards, stationary tappets suitably spaced apart on the machine and adapted to act upon said arms at the required times, a container supporting shelf adapted to revolve with the drum and on which containers can be placed in alignment with the holders, means for rotating the drum and said supporting shelf so that the units can travel in company with the containers, means for bringing closures one at a time into a position to be received by the travelling holders, and means adapted to be acted upon by a container when it is initially presented to the machine for actuating the fluid pressure controlling me ans to admit pressure to the corresponding closure applying unit at the required time whereby such admission is obtained only in the event of a container being presented to the means for applying the closure.

17. A machine for applying screw closures to containers comprisingdn combination, a drum arranged to revolve about a vertical axis, a plurality of closure applying units carried on the outside of the drum, each of said units including a main cylinder, a plunger having upon it a piston adapted to work within said cylinder, a nut which is carried by said plunger, an Archimedean screw which extends through the nut, a second cylinder on said screw, a holder associated with said second cylinder and adapted to receive and grip a closure, a piston in said second cylinder, a member associated both with the piston in the second cylinder and the holder and adapted to operate the latter when the piston works within the second cylinder, a two-way valve having passages for pressure and exhaust, and arms associated with said valve and capable of being acted upon for operating the valve and effecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders, whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders to operate the holder so that it grips a closure, move said holder to a container to be closed, effect rotation of the holder to apply the closure and subsequently return the parts of the unit to normal position, said units being disposed on the drum with their holders downwards, stationary tappets suitably spaced apart on the machine and adapted to act upon said arms at the required times, a container supporting shelf adapted to revolve with the drum and on which containers can be placed in alignment with the holders, means for rotating the drum and said supporting shelf so that the units can travel in company with the containers, means for bringing closures one at a time into a position to be received by the travelling holders, and means which are normally in a position to operate the fluid controlling means to relieve the pressure in a closure applying unit near the point where a closure is initially presented to a container, said means being adapted to be rendered inoperative by a properly delivered closure, for the purpose herein described.

18. A machine for applying screw closures to containers comprising, in combination, a drum arranged to revolve about a vertical axis, a plurality of closure applying units carried on the outside of the drum, each of said units including a main cylinder, a plunger having upon it a piston adapted to work within said cylinder, a nut which is carried by said plunger, an Archimedean screw which extends through the nut, a second cylino'er on said screw, a holder associated with said second cylinder and adapted to receive and grip a closure, a piston in said second cylinder, a member associated both with the piston in the second cylinder and the holder and adapted to operate the latter when the piston works within the second cylinder, a two-way valve having passages for pressure and exhaust, and arms associated with said valve and capable of being acted upon for operating the "valve and effecting admission and release of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders, whereby the pistons can be appropriately moved within the cylinders to operate the holder so that it grips a closure, move said holder to a container to be closed, effect rotation of the holder to apply the closure and subsequently return the parts of the unit to normal position, said units being disposed on the drum with their holders downwards, stationary tappets suitably spaced apart on the machine and adapted to act upon said arms at the required times, a container supporting shelf adapted to revolve with the drum and on which containers can be placed in alignment with the holders, means for rotating the drum and said supporting shelf so that the units can travel in company with the containers, means for bringing closures one at a time into a position to be received by the travelling holders, means for controlling the fluid pressure so that it can be out 01f from the units for a prearranged period before release, means adapted to be acted upon by a container when it is initially presented to the machine for actuating the fluid pressure controlling means to admit pressure to the corresponding closure applying unit at the required time whereby such admission is obtained only in the event of a container being presented to the means for applying closure, and means which are normally in a position to operate the fluid controlling means to relieve the pressure in a closure applying unit near the point Where a closure is initially presented to a container, said means being adapted to be rendered inoperative by a properly delivered closure, for the purpose herein described.

19. Apparatus for dealing with containers and closures therefor, comprising, in combination, a holder provided with members adapted to receive and grip a closure, means for operating said gripping members to grip said closure and means operable by fluid pressure for moving said holder towards and from a relatively stationary container to be dealt with and for imparting rotary movement to the holder, for the purposes herein described.

ARTHUR CLARKE. 

